Bahnhofstrasse
Bahnhofstrasse is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Zurich audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~60 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type landmark
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Zurich Zurich guide
About Bahnhofstrasse
One of the world's most exclusive shopping streets, stretching 1.4 km from the main station to Lake Zurich, lined with luxury boutiques, banks, and the famous Sprüngli confectionery.
Bahnhofstrasse, literally "Railway Station Street", is one of the world's great luxury shopping thoroughfares, running 1.4 kilometres from Zurich Hauptbahnhof south to the Bürkliplatz landing stage on Lake Zurich. Opened after the demolition of the city's medieval fortifications in 1864, the boulevard was designed as a grand civic promenade and quickly attracted Zurich's finest retailers, jewellers, and banks. Today it ranks consistently among the world's most expensive commercial real estate, alongside Fifth Avenue in New York and the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The street is entirely pedestrianised except for trams, and is lined with linden trees that provide dappled shade in summer. Among the notable establishments are the Confiserie Sprüngli, founded in 1836, whose Luxemburgerli macarons are among Switzerland's most famous confections; Bahnhofstrasse also passes directly over the vaults of the Union Bank of Switzerland and Credit Suisse, which store an estimated 20% of the world's private wealth underground. The southern end broadens into Bürkliplatz, a pleasant open square above the lake landing stages.
Did you know? The underground vaults beneath Bahnhofstrasse are estimated to contain around 20% of the world's entire private wealth, stored in Swiss bank vaults.
How long should you spend at Bahnhofstrasse?
Plan about ~60 min at Bahnhofstrasse. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Bahnhofstrasse worth visiting?
Bahnhofstrasse is one of the 22 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Zurich, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Zurich
Hear the story of Bahnhofstrasse
Preview the Zurich tour free in the Gingerguide app.